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A fighter might have a good idea they can kill 12 approaching wolves (being high level they've got the training and experiance to know this), but they probably have little idea how well they could climb a tree in chain to escape. Hell, there level might not help them at all (thats up to the DM)...

Thats the outcome of every group that overplayed the game and eventually wanted variety, not a result of a rule or even advice in the DMG. Honestly, I don't think Gygax new how people would continue playing the game as long as they did. As players we weren't allowed to see the DMG until we...

Thats true, there is some uncertainty but much much less then in real life (where we don't have a clue and are often completely off).

Thats possible. But regardless the effect they had was the same (ie. the DM being more free to determine outcomes, and the player being less sure of what will occur). If you check out the tables you can see its very easy to reduce it to a d20 system (infact the tables seem to be based on...

Sure, doing cool stuff in a fantasy setting is the point. But its also to make that activity feel more real (and less like a game) the inconsistant nature of what the player has to role (which is up to the DM) helps, it adds to the "playing make believe" aspect of the game. Think about it...

I see these "inconsistent mechanics" as AD&Ds greatest strength (and I'm certain Gygax did as well, don't think for a second he couldn't have made them more simplistic or consistant...he chose not to). Inconsistancy in what keeps the player uncertain and thus excited and involved in the game...

Everything I thought I didn't like about the original AD&D game we house ruled out and gave it a try (over 25+ years) which covers most of the above complaints and then some. What ended up EVERY TIME (following an initial boost from pure novelty of changing the system) was an experiance...

IMO the worst thing you can do (and last resort) is not allow certain alignments or classes from being used (afterall alot of the fun the player has in the game is imagining what his PC is like, that doesn't mean he has to act it out). If the DM is worried about game flow, just tell the players...

This is one of those topics thats always difficult to deal with considering the various ways groups like to play. We always enjoyed the conflicts that came up between PCs because it emulates "real life" thus adding to the immersion. So keep it to yourself (if your evil) and mind your own...

What are all the circumstances a MU needs to cast Read Magic (for instance do they need to cast this before reading an MU scroll)?

:confused: Oh your right, that was the illusionist. OK to beat and kick this horse into horseburger, the ranger can add new spells to his spell book from MU spell books (assuming he has RM) and vice versa....is that what your thinking? If so, I think all rangers would likely take RM as thier...

Very interesting, So Foster, a few more questions: ;) 1) IYO do rangers even have spell books (of some sort) or do you think the rules intended them to just have them stored in memory, it seems the rules don't mention it one way or another (perhaps a Dragon article, or an NPC listing in one...

Foster: "He can track. At high level he gets both cleric (there were no druids yet in those days) and m-u spells, extraordinary followers (both characters and monster-types), and the ability to use crystal balls and ESP-related magic items." Whats the BTB use of magic items for AD&D rangers...

FOSTER: "All the big flavor-altering changes to the ranger -- two-weapon fighting, thief skills, prohibition on heavy armor, "to hit" bonus against "favored enemy" of player's choice instead of damage bonus vs. giant class, (more? -- it's been ~17 years since I've looked at the 2E PH;" My...

I have to go with the original myself. I appreciate Gygax's logic with the UA changes (esp. the thief like abilities given the surprise bonuses) but I don't get the impression the ranger moves around in the same way as a thief (incorporating woodland knowledge etc.).

Interesting topic. The entire subject of dual/multi-classing in any FRPG centers around 2 concepts: realism (what is logical within a given reality presented by your GM) and playability (what rules allow the game to both be fun to play over time and also give a sense of balance and order that...

Dear Gary, What was/is your all time favorite AD&D Module?

So which modules from these 2 publishers would you suggest (if you had to pick say 1 from each)? I understand "Saga of the Witch Queen" is pretty good (and already converted to 1E), but what else? Anything that could fit into the early 1E catagory? Also, what about WOTCs official 3E and 3.5...

Are there any 3E modules that run like early 1E modules (which could have been pulished in the day)? I tried buying 3E modules but honestly thought they sucked so stopped early on.